I've been here for 6 years and You can expect to pay around $718 for rent here. Poverty rate is 30.9%, which is higher than I expected. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The weather takes some getting used to.
22 upvotes
30 Replies
Gerald C.
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great Italian places. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
40 upvotes
Victoria C.
I'm a electrician and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
39 upvotes
Amy M.
I work in hospitality here and it's exactly what I was looking for. The job market for my field is improving. Feel free to reach out with questions..
39 upvotes
Michael Jackson
glad someone said it
35 upvotes
Nicholas C.
Hot take but I genuinely enjoy living here. I know a lot of people disagree but after 9 years here, that's my honest assessment.
34 upvotes
Samuel Chavez
facts
32 upvotes
Melanie Collins
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. job market used to be much manageable but now it's solid.
30 upvotes
Landon
I'm a electrician and I've found I have mixed feelings honestly. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
29 upvotes
sacramentogirl2026
I've lived in North for about 5 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Minneapolis, I was surprised by cultural scene. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Good healthcare facilities
- Good internet infrastructure
- The outdoor recreation scene is solid
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Winters are long and cold
Overall I'd rate it 8/10 for retirees. No regrets on my end..
29 upvotes
Declan Scott
As someone who grew up here, it exceeded my expectations. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much established but now it's hit or miss.
27 upvotes
jaxguy2020
yeah no that's not right
26 upvotes
Leo
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a lawyer, 44, moved here 4 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Sunset and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The housing market situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for singles. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Phoenix, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $60K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
25 upvotes
Laura C.
I've lived in Highland for about 7 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's not perfect but it works for me. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by community vibe. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The traffic scene is tough
The downsides:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Can feel isolated
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for singles. Definitely worth checking out..
24 upvotes
Madelyn G.
My experience has been mostly positive. it's exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I'd watch out for is weather. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
24 upvotes
Leonardo
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Internet is underrated in most areas.
24 upvotes
Amelia Campbell
The food scene here is average. Tons of great Asian places. I genuinely enjoy living here.
21 upvotes
Lucy Thomas
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Greenfield. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in retail. If you're in retail you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: tough. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
18 upvotes
Dorothy W.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value outdoor recreation, you'll love it. The housing market is genuinely underrated and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is affordable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. outdoor recreation is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
16 upvotes
Delilah Reyes
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely pretty good and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Maple Ridge) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Raleigh, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Limited public transit options.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
16 upvotes
Scott W.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 9 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is healthcare. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is pretty good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Riverside side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
14 upvotes
native_gabriella15
thanks for sharing
13 upvotes
Lucas R.
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. outdoor recreation used to be much reasonable but now it's surprisingly good.
12 upvotes
Lily Martin
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Midtown for 3 years. Moved from Nashville for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is underrated. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is underrated - we have lakes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Midtown schools are solid. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Nightlife is limited. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And public transit can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 8/10. Feel free to reach out with questions.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
10 upvotes
Kennedy White
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are growing. You get used to it after the first year.
9 upvotes
Michael Wright
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 2 years. Moved from Raleigh for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North schools are challenging. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Chain restaurants dominate. And dating scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For singles, I'd say this is a 9/10. Hope this helps!. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
8 upvotes
Emily Bailey
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. Feel free to reach out with questions..
8 upvotes
colton_lover
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, the quality of life is solid. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
5 upvotes
Emmett Bailey
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in East. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like Southern.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
5 upvotes
Ryan Cox
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 4 years and I love the pace of life here. The thing nobody mentions is housing market. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into skiing, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Cedar Grove side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
4 upvotes
Mason B.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I have mixed feelings honestly. Internet is pretty good in most areas.
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